Swings



Aug. 8, 1961 D. F. WUERFEL SWINGS Fl'ed Aug. 10. 1960 INVENTOR.

DONALD E Wl/ERFE'L A TTORNE Y 2,995,367 SWINGS Donald F. Wuerfcl, 8171Esper Blvd., Detroit, Mich. FiledAug. 10, '1960, Ser. No. 48,710- '7Claims. (Cl. 272-30) This invention relates to improvements in swingsfor children. It is an object of the invention to provide a swingwherein the seats are adapted to travel either about a vertical, arcuatepath, or circularly about a horizontal path, or along both pathssimultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a swing which may bequickly and securely mounted around a vertical post such as those oftenfound inA basements of houses for supporting joists of flooring above.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a swing ywhereinthe horizontal axis about which it moves is located materially above theseats when the latter are in their normal horizontally alignedpositions, to provide steadiness and rigidity to the structure when inuse.

Having thus briefly and broadly stated some of the objects andadvantages of the invention, I will now describe it in detail lwith theaid of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the invention, wherein dotted and dot-dashlines, respectively, indicate the seats at opposite extremities of theirtravel, and

FIGURE 2 is a plan view on a reduced scale.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged sections on the lines 3 3, 4-4 and 5-6respectively of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3 and,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a circular post which is firmlymounted in a vertical position, and may consist of a conventional metalpost such as those frequently employed in basements of houses forsupporting joists of a floor above. Fixedly mounted around the post 1 isa collar 2 preferably made in two semi-circular halves suitably securedto one another `as by bolts 2a. Projecting radially outward from thecollar 2, and uniformly spaced from one another, are a plurality of pins3, preferably three in number, on each of which a roller 4 is mountedfor rotation. 5 denotes a cap consisting of an annular ilange 6 the boreof which freely encircles the pipe 1, and depending from the outerperiphery of the iiange is a skirt 7. The flange 6 is mounted forrotation about the axis of the post 1 on the rollers 4. The skirt isoutwardly positioned relative to the rollers 4 and projects beneath themto prevent childrens lingers coming in contact with the rollers. Theflange and skirt are integral and made in two semi-circular halves whichare arranged in abutting relation. In the present instance plates 8extend across the adjacent Vertical margins of the skirt 7 and formed onthe latter are upwardly and outwardly projecting fingers 7a which extendthrough apertures formed through the plates to hold the skirt portionstogether. The plates 8 project beneath the skirt 7 and havediametrically opposed openings '9 formed through their lowerextrem-ities.

10 denotes a hollow -rectangular frame mounted around the post 1. Theframe is made of two identical and substantially U-shaped pipes 10a. Oneextremity of each pipe is reduced in size to tit into the oppositeextremity of the other pipe. The coacting pipe ends are telescopicallymounted in engagement and are secured to one another by screws 12.

Extending through the openings '9 are axially aligned pins 14 on each ofwhich a pair of supporting arms 15 are pivotally mounted to project onopposite sides of the post. All the arms are identical and each pairextends p United States Patent O Patented Aug. 8, 1961 substantiallyover and parallel with one side of the frame 10. The arms are slightlydownwardly and outwardly inclined from the pins 14 and their outerportions are more steeply downwardly inclined and secured at their outerextremities by bolts 16 to the frame. Thus opposite extremities of theframe at points equidistant from the axis of the post are supported onboth sides by the supporting arms. 'I'he latter are transversely bracedintermediately of their length by rods 17 secured to them by bolts 18,and mounted on the rods outwardly of the arms are handles 19. Secured tothe frame, and in the present instance shown as downward extensions ofthe supporting arm 15 at -their extremities remote from the pins 14 arelongitudinal inwardly inclined footrests 20 the lower extremities ofwhich are outwardly exed.

Mounted on the opposite U-shaped extremities of the frame 10 and securedthereto by bolts 21 are seats 22. It will be noted that the bolts extendthrough the seats nearer one side than the other, so that upon removalof the bolts the seats may be turned around to be positioned fartherfrom or nearer to the handles 1t) and the footrests 20 to accommodatelarger or smaller children.

In FIGURE l the swing is shown with the frame \10 in its normalhorizontal position, and the latter and the supporting arms 15 are alsoindicated thereon by dotted and dot-dash lines B and C respectively atopposite ends of their travel. The fact that the horizontal axis (thepins 1'4) are positioned materially above the seats when they are intheir normal horizontally aligned position gives stability to thestructure, and the possibility of the device tilting sideways when theframe is in motion about both the axis of the pins and the axis of thepost simultaneously is rendered impossible due to the arrangement of thesupporting arms and their attachment to the frame. Again, due to theconstruction herein described the swing may be easily and quicklymounted around a post which extends uninterruptedly between the iioorand the ceiling.

While in the foregoing the preferred embodiment of the invention hasbeen described and shown, it is understood that alterations andmodications may be made thereto, provided the said alterations andmodiiications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A swing comprising a collar including means for securing it around avertical post, pins projecting radially outward from the collar, rollersmounted on the pins, an annular cap mounted over the collar for rotationon the rollers about the axis ofthe post, axially aligned pivot pinsprojecting from opposite sides of the cap, a frame extending alongopposite sides of the post, supporting arms mounted on the pivot pinsandprojecting in opposite directions therefrom, the extremities of thearms remote from the pivot pins being connected to the frame adjacentits opposite extremities, and seats on opposite ends of the frame.

2. The combination in claim l, including rods extending transverselyacross the supporting arms and secured thereto, and handles on the rods.

3. A swing comprising a two-piece collar, means for securing the collararound a vertical post, pins projecting radially from the collar,rollers mounted on the pins, an annular cap including two semi-circularportions mounted over the collar for rotation on the rollers around thepost, diametrically opposed plates secured to the two cap portions forholding them together, axially aligned pivot pins projecting outwardlyfrom the plates, downwardly and outwardly inclined supporting armsmounted on each pivot pin and projecting in opposite directionstherefrom, a frame extending along opposite sides of the post, the outerextremities of the supporting arms being connected to the frame adjacentits outer extremities, and seats mounted on the outer ends of the frame.

4. The combination in claim 3, wherein the frame includes two opposedU-shaped members having their adjacent extremities telescopicallyconnected to one another.

5. The combinationin cl-aim A3, including footrests in- Vvtegral withYand depending from the extremities Tof the :supporting arms connected-to Vthe frame.

k'6. A swing comprising a collarincluding means for "securing it arounda vertical post,.uniformly spaced radial pins projecting outwardly fromthe collar, rollers'mounted on thepins, Van annular vrcap mounted overthe collar for with the ypair of .arms on theother pin, aframe the sides-of which extend along opposite sides of the post parallel withthesupporting arms, said frame being supported adjacent its extremities bysaid arms, seats on opposite ends of the frame, footrests dependinglysupported beneath the frame, and handles extending laterally from thesupporting arms, whereby the fram-ne'Y and its seats are adapted toswing about the pivot pins andato turn about the axis of the post.

7. The combination in claim 6,wherein the collar, the annular capand'the frame are readily mountable around or demountable fromaround thepost ,intermediately of its length.

References Cited in ltheflle of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS1,378,733 Simons May 17, 1921 1,904,687 Jacob Apr. l18, 1933 2,895,734Pittaluga VJuly 2x1, 1959

